14 National Parks That Are Best Visited in Summer Than Winter
Winter adventures are often snowstorms, frozen trails, and closures. While many national parks are a dream in winter, summer brings its own magic: thriving wildlife, sun-soaked landscapes, and longer days to explore. Summer is a whole different world of possibilities – whether you’re road-tripping with the family, escaping to the mountains, or chasing waterfalls.
Here’s a list of 14 national parks that are best experienced when the days are long and warm, from towering cliffs to crystal clear lakes.
Yellowstone National Park
Summer Yellowstone is perfection. Geysers erupt, bison roam the valleys and meadows are bursting with wild wildflowers. The park does get snowy and quiet in winter, but many areas are inaccessible. You can visit the Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic Springs in the summer without worrying about closed roads. Plus, Yellowstone is alive with wildlife and makes for a great place for animal lovers and photographers.
Yosemite National Park
In the summer, Yosemite’s dramatic granite cliffs and waterfalls are the headliners. Although winter is beautiful, many trails are closed, and waterfalls slow to trickle or freeze. In June, Yosemite Falls is roaring, and the famed hikes of Half Dome and Mist Trail are open to visitors. Summer is the perfect season to see its splendor.
Glacier National Park
In the summer, Glacier National Park is all about accessibility, and is nicknamed the “Crown of the Continent.” The park’s iconic scenic route, Going-to-the-Sun Road, is often closed until July because of snow. It also shows crystal clear lakes, never-ending hiking opportunities, and fields of alpine wildflowers. You’ll be lucky to see a grizzly bear or mountain goat roaming the hillsides.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton is at its most beautiful in summer. The lakes shimmer and the snowcapped peaks reflect on them, but the hiking trails are finally free of ice and snow. The highlight of the park, Jenny Lake, is perfect for kayaking and boat tours at this time. And the days are longer, allowing visitors more time to take in the park’s jaw-dropping views and plentiful wildlife.
Mount Rainier National Park
Summer at Mount Rainier is a must if you’ve ever wanted to walk through meadows carpeted with wildflowers. Much of the park is buried under thick layers of snow in winter, but July and August reveal its colorful landscapes. The snow still crowning Mount Rainier itself looks picture-perfect against sunny skies. This summer beauty can be explored on countless trails throughout the park’s most famous areas, Paradise and Sunrise.
Acadia National Park
The brightest star of Acadia is perched on the coastline of Maine. Summer is when everything comes to life in its blend of rocky shores, mountains, and forests. Unforgettable views at sunrise can be seen from a hike up Cadillac Mountain, or explore the lovely carriage roads by bike. Acadia’s coastal magic is more predictable in the summer when winter often brings unpredictable storms and icy conditions.
Rocky Mountain National Park
In winter, the Rockies are dominated by snow, closing trails, and scenic drives. This Colorado gem, however, is peaking in summer. In a welcomed break from the winter, Trail Ridge Road, one of the highest paved roads in the U.S. opens, giving road-trippers a chance to enjoy breathtaking panoramic views. At higher elevations, comfortable temperatures make for summer hiking to alpine lakes and watching the elk grazing.
Zion National Park
The park is beautiful all year, but summer is when the park is warm enough for adventurers. In winter, The Narrows can be a frigid hike through a river canyon, but in the summer sun, it can be refreshing. When ice-free, Angels Landing, another iconic trail, is also far safer. Crowds are just one of the things you can expect at any park in the country; Zion is one of the most visited parks in the country!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
The Smokies come alive in summer with lush greenery, fireflies, and waterfalls at their peak. Wildlife such as black bears and salamanders are out and about, the weather is good for long hikes and the trails are clear. The Smokies can be shrouded in fog and ice during winter, so summer’s vibrancy makes it the best season to visit.
Bryce Canyon National Park
The summer sun is the best time to see hoodoos in Bryce Canyon, those strange, towering rock formations. The trails are often covered with snow in winter making hiking dangerous or inaccessible. In summer, you can visit iconic trails such as Navajo Loop and Queen’s Garden without a step missing and take in the fiery red rocks against the clear blue sky.
Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Summer exploration is all these neighboring parks are about. Summer is the time to see the full grandeur of the Giant Sequoias — some of the biggest trees on Earth — but winter restricts access to towering trees and deep canyons. The trails are clear, the waterfalls are strong, and, best of all, it’s warm enough to put on the hiking boots.
Olympic National Park
In the summer, Olympic’s many ecosystems—lush rainforest, alpine peaks, and wild coastlines—really do stand out. While some areas are impassable due to winter rains and heavy snow, summer is sunny and mild. Visit Hurricane Ridge for mountain views, hike through the Hoh Rainforest, or explore the Pacific beaches at low tide.
Arches National Park
The otherworldly destination of Arches is one where you can see the park’s iconic rock formations in all their glory during summer. Winter does bring cold winds and occasional snow, but summer’s clear skies make Delicate Arch, Balanced Rock, and Landscape Arch even more awe-inspiring. Hiking early in the morning helps beat the heat of the day and gives you great sunrise views.
Denali National Park
Alaska’s wild Denali is a summer goldmine. It gets cold and dark here in winter with subzero temperatures and limited access. But by June, wildflowers will take over the park, the rivers will flow, and the grizzlies and caribou will be active. Clear summer days also increase your chances of catching a glimpse of Mount Denali, North America’s tallest peak, at its best.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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